Richard Mennear

Alan Shearer believes Sunderland’s strikers - in particular Jermain Defoe - are equally to blame for the club’s current struggles and not just the defence.

Sunderland prop up the Premier League table with just two points from their opening six matches following the 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.

But the forwards have to take their share of the blame also.

Alan Shearer

But Shearer doesn’t think all of the blame can be placed on the Black Cats defence.

The ex-Newcastle United and England striker turned television pundit believes the outcome could have been different had Jermain Defoe buried a one v one situation in the first half, when Sunderland were 2-0 down.

Defoe - who was subbed by Dick Advocaat in the second half - also headed wide from a good position but the flag had already been raised for offside.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: “Most weekends we have highlighted Sunderland’s defence and rightly so and we could have highlighted them again, particularly [Younes] Kaboul who had a very, very poor game.

“But the forwards have to take their share of the blame also.

“Defoe had a chance, didn’t take it, it would have made it 2-1.

“Last week against Spurs he had a one v one, got to score, no doubt about it and he scuffs it. And [against Bournemouth] something similar.

“He did well to get into the position and is off balance, okay, but that would have made it 2-1 and it is a completely different game, attitude and they are up for it.

“For the header, he doesn’t know he is offside and he should still actually score.

“It is worrying when you take probably your best goalscorer off when you are chasing the game.”

Next up for Sunderland is the visit of Manchester City to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night for the Capital One Cup third round clash.